Africa: Buhari, Others Hail Adesina As Sidi Ould Tah Emerges AfDB President

Former President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders congratulated Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. He completed two terms as managing director of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Buhari expressed happiness over Dr. Adesina's success during his tenure. He supported Dr. Adesina's emergence as the bank's leader twice.

Buhari praised Dr. Adesina for his spectacular performance at AfDB. He noted that Dr. Adesina set an unmatched record of excellence. This left shareholders very satisfied with the bank’s progress. Buhari felt pleased to have played a role in showcasing his talent.

The former president highlighted Dr. Adesina's hard work and discipline. He described him as a beacon of inspiration for others. Buhari wished him strength and success in future endeavors.

Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah has been elected as the new AfDB president. He will succeed Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, whose second term ends in September after 10 years in charge. Tah was elected during the Annual General Meeting in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Tah received 73% of regional votes and 77% overall in the third voting round. This endorsement is unprecedented for an AfDB presidential candidate. The other finalists were Amadou Hott from Senegal and Samuel Maimbo from Zambia.

Mr. Tah previously served as director general of BADEA since 2015. Before that, he was Mauritania’s finance minister and economy minister for many years.

He has extensive experience in international finance, spanning about 35 years. His roles included working at various financial institutions and banks.

Tah holds a PhD in Economics from Nice-Sophia-Antipolis University, France, along with other advanced degrees in economics from Paris VII University.

He also attended executive programs at prestigious institutions like Harvard and London Business School.

President Bola Tinubu congratulated Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani on Tah's election as AfDB president. Tinubu praised the transparent election process that led to this outcome.

He believes Dr. Tah will bring valuable experience to his new role at AfDB, succeeding Nigeria’s Dr Akinwumi Adesina in September.

Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria's strong partnership with AfDB, highlighting its status as the largest shareholder among member countries.

He committed to working closely with Mr. Tah on shared priorities like infrastructure development and climate resilience.

Recently, Nigeria approved $500 million for the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF), extending its operations by another 15 years.

Established in 1976, NTF supports development projects across Africa fully financed by Nigeria.

This commitment shows Nigeria's dedication to driving inclusive growth on the continent.

Tinubu pledged full support for Mr.Tah’s vision for AfDB, focusing on economic independence and climate-resilient infrastructure development.

Finally, he thanked outgoing President Dr.Adesina and wished him success in future endeavors.